Page 12

Lucan

Unwelcome Guests

The taste of her was burned onto my lips. Her spicy flavor intensified as the fear ebbed away. My body tensed with restraint as I held perfectly still wrapped around her, riding the back of my bike while Riley navigated the mountain roads.

Yet another surprise.

She’d struggled at first, but after a few miles, she’d relaxed into the drive.

I was wound tight.

Not from fear, though my dragon worried each time Riley increased the speed, but from the knowledge that I’d have to continue to tread lightly so as not to squash this newfound trust blooming between us.

The beast in me wanted to throw caution to the wind. To get Riley back to our nest safely and take my time exploring every inch of her body, before sinking my cock in hilt-deep and burying my fangs into her neck, claiming what was mine.

Then doing it again.

My loins ached with need.

Having her lean back against me with each turn didn’t help.

I tried my best to hide my erection, but I could only do so much.

My muscles were taut with the effort as I stepped off the bike, putting some distance between us.

“Are you hungry?” My voice sounded throaty and hoarse as I removed the helmet from her head. My eyes were drawn to those luscious lips, begging for another taste.

The tip of her tongue wet them before she spoke. “I could eat.”

Delicious torture.

In all my centuries, I’d never experienced a primal ache like this. I normally took what I wanted and didn’t waste precious moments dancing around desires, but not this time. Riley had me tripping over myself like a brooding, clueless youth.

I guided her to the kitchen, not sure when her hand had slipped into mine, but delighting in the fact that it was a perfect fit.

“You’re going to cook for me again?” Riley noticed our conjoined hands and gave mine a gentle squeeze before releasing it.

“Always.” I stepped away, ignoring the cold tightness in my chest at the loss.

“You need to let me help,” she said, sliding onto the booth at the breakfast nook. “It’s not fair for you to do everything by yourself.”

She wants to cook for us.

“In time,” I reassured her, taking out the cutting board and pulling some gouda and sharp white cheddar cheese from the fridge.

I worked quickly to create a snack board with sliced cheese, olives, salami, stoned wheat crackers, and grapes. Riley continued watching me. Her eyes were alert, like a cat, but her body stayed relaxed.

It was a win.

I carried the tray to the table when the unmistakable sensation traveled over my skin. Like the blade of a dull knife dragging across my chest.

“Come with me.” I set down the board.

“Why?” Worry flared in her eyes and I cursed the Gods for ruining this peaceful day. But she stood when I beckoned to her, trusting me.

“Something is approaching my wards,” I explained.

“I thought you said it was safe.” She looked back over her shoulder to the kitchen as I ushered her down the hall toward the bedroom.

“It is. I just don’t want you to have to see—”

The painful roar of an injured dragon came right before the crash on my roof that shook the house harder than any earthquake it was built to withstand.

Riley screamed as she clung to my arm. “What is that?”

I let out another cursed sigh as I sat her down on the bed and tucked her short hair behind her ears. “You stay here and relax. I’ll go deal with my brother.”

∞

Damn you, you bastard.

I approached Malachy’s broken and bleeding human form as he pulled himself up to stand on two feet. “Who did this?” I barked.

My older brother was a general pain in the ass on the best of days and I was one of the few who told him as much.

He grinned with a busted lip. “Is that how you greet your guardian?”

“Don’t start that shit with me.” I folded my arms over my chest. “What happened?”

“I wouldn’t have to throw titles around if you’d…” His nostrils flared.

I stepped to the side, possessively blocking his view while Riley’s dainty steps sounded on the stairs to the roof. As proud as I was that she felt safe enough to disobey my order to stay put, I wished she’d picked a better time.

“Is that a human?” he sneered.

Apparently, he wasn’t injured enough because he was searching for more pain.

“Watch yourself, Guardian,” I growled.

My brother may have been big enough to fit his destined role, but it was only birth order that determined his place. We had the same genetics. I was just as big and mean, and I’d had plenty of opportunities to prove it.

“You have company.” Malachy remembered decorum, standing taller even as he swayed a little to the side and the slash on his chest opened, spilling more blood. “My apologies for interrupting.”

Shadows gathered at his sides and his skin turned green as scales tinted with gold began to form.

“Knock it off.” I grabbed him by the back of the neck, hating Riley’s frightened gasp. “You’re in no condition to shift, much less fly. Now tell me what happened before I have to beat it out of you.”

Malachy tried to shake me off, but he was weak from blood loss and it didn’t have much effect. “It was the—”

A shrieking cry came from outside my wards.

Malachy’s eyes widened. “I led them here.”

I followed his gaze to where Riley stood.

“Lucan?” The fear in her tone went straight to my heart. My skin crawled. A rumble came in the distance, echoing like thunder. Sparks flew when something crashed against my wards.

Earth chose that moment to shake, reminding us of her power, and how easily we played the game of life and death on her fields.

So far, I was still winning.

My wards would hold against any invaders, but I wasn’t sure how long Riley’s newly found boldness would last with yet another shock to her system.

“Let’s get you both safely inside and then I’ll handle them.” I grabbed my brother’s arm, helping him along a bit faster and ignoring his sharp intake of breath.

He’d heal with a few hours of rest.

More blood ran down his chest when I put his arm over my shoulder. A hint of white bone poked through torn skin on his ribs.

Might need a few days.

“I’ve got him.” A shutter slammed over Riley’s eyes as her jaw clenched. She rushed to my side, pushing me out of the way. “You go take care of that.”

I stumbled back at the force of her command.

Despite the pounding of her heart, there was no scent of fear, and she managed to hold my heavy brother up with her own strength.

Malachy gave me a confused look as I swallowed my dragon’s possessive roar.

Thunder clapped again as sparks shot across the arc of my wards.

“Go!” Riley cried.

“Everything is going to be fine. I’ll be right back.” I gave Riley a strained smile, pulling off my shirt and turning to my brother.

The shadows gathered around me as I spoke to Malachy through our familial link, “If anything happens to her, I will tear off your wings and bathe in our shared blood, brother.”